Elections were held for all the seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.

Background and outcome of elections:

President René Harris announced on 3 February 2000 the date of new general elections. Two weeks later, the 18-member Parliament was dissolved to pave the way for the poll scheduled for 8 April 2000 in which about 4000 Nauruans 21 years and older were expected to turn out.

The electoral campaign focussed on the country's economic strategies, education, health problems and the election of the President by direct vote rather than by members of Parliament.

A few days after the election, the new Parliament re-elected for a new three-year term President René Harris who beated former President Bernard Dowiyogo by a single vote. Mr Harris was first elected President in April 1999 after a vote of no-confidence against Mr Dowiyogo.

The 18 members of the Parliament also elected Mr. Ludwig Scottie as the new Speaker who resigned a few days later, because of a division of the Parliament into two factions, one led by President Harris and the other led by former President Bernard Dowiyogo. As a result of the resignation of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Ross Cain, President Harris also tendered his resignation. Mr. Dowiyogo was then elected to the office of President.

In an unusual twist, both Mr Scottie and Mr Cain were re-elected as Speaker and Deputy Speaker by Parliament.